Canada
CGA: Optimism and Opportunity in 2021
We all agree that 2020 was a year that we want to put firmly behind us. The COVID-19 pandemic has had an extraordinary impact on our business, communities and families. In these early months of 2021, the impacts of the pandemic continue be present and real for those still impacted by closures, but there is a sense of optimism and hope for the year ahead.
2021 will be a pivotal year for the Canadian Gaming Association (CGA) as we continue to work with both federal and provincial governments to ensure the best outcome possible for our industry as it recovers from COVID-19.
The association’s advocacy efforts will be primarily focused on sports betting and the development of iGaming regulatory model in Ontario. The CGA will continue to support Bill C-13, the federal single-event sports wagering bill, as it moves through the House to the Senate, and will provide assistance as provincial regulators decide how to best to develop their sports wagering regulatory models. Coinciding with these efforts will be the CGA’s involvement in the consultations on Ontario’s iGaming model, the CGA continue to work with the AGCO and the government of Ontario as they move ahead with a licensing model to make iGaming a reality in the province.
CGA Academy
We have launched a new training and development program called the CGA Academy in partnership with iGaming Academy. Member and industry offers are coming soon and in the meantime, you can find more information on the CGA Academy microsite.
New Members
Our membership is growing! We are thrilled to welcome Bet Regal and Kambi to the Canadian Gaming Association. If you are interested in joining the CGA, information and application forms are available here.
Sports Betting Update
Sports betting will be a key priority for the CGA throughout 2021 as it will be a powerful tool to help the industry emerge from the impacts of COVID-19. Bill C-218, the Private Member’s Bill brought forward by Kevin Waugh, MP for Saskatoon-Grasswood, had its second reading and debate on February 5 and again benefited from all-party support. The second reading vote will be held on February 17, which will approve the bill’s referral to the House of Commons Justice Committee for hearings.
Bill C-13, the government bill, is due to have its second reading and debate on February 19.
Paul Burns, President & CEO, CGA, and Mr. Waugh were quoted in an article in the Financial Post on how Canada has never been closer to legalizing single-event sports betting.
We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of the two bills.
Regulatory Innovation Committee Moving On to Sport and Event Wagering Standards
The CGA’s Regulatory Innovation Committee developed regulatory standards for cashless wagering (Standards for Cashless Systems) in land-based Canadian casinos in 2020, which are now available for implementation across Canada. A copy of the standards can be dowloaded on our website. The committee has moved on to sport and event wagering standards in anticipation of the legalization of single-event sports wagering.
Given that only parlay-style wagers are legal in Canada, there is a need to address issues that will be specific to the implementation of sport and event wagering standards such as match fixing/integrity of data, sharing data across jurisdictional lines, and marketing and the offering of odds. The committee will be working to develop statements to append to GLI-33, which most provinces will be adopting in the months to come.
The committee includes a cross section of gaming industry representatives working with provincial gaming regulators and subject matter experts.
Congratulations!
CGA board member Dean Ehrlich, Executive Vice President and Games Business Leader, Everi, was named one of Global Gaming Business magazine’s 25 People to Watch.
Claire Copeland, former Chair of the CGA’s Board of Directors and former CEO of Falls Management, was awarded the Order of Ontario for his business leadership contributions to Ontario.
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Canada
High Roller Technologies Signs Letter of Intent with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to Support Responsible Gambling in Ontario
High Roller Technologies Inc., operator of the award-winning, premium online casino brands High Roller and Fruta, announced it has entered into a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Kindbridge Behavioral Health (Kindbridge) to support its commitment to responsible gambling in Ontario, subject to licensing and regulatory approval.
Through the planned partnership with Kindbridge, High Roller intends to offer eligible Ontario players who choose to self-exclude a confidential pathway to support that helps individuals understand their options and take next steps at their own pace. The experience begins with education and a guided triage process, followed by the option to connect with no-cost peer support and, when appropriate, licensed Canadian clinicians. Using a stepped-care approach, individuals can start where they feel ready and access additional support over time, based on their needs and goals.
“We believe entertainment should always be enjoyed responsibly. Partnering with Kindbridge reinforces our commitment to player wellbeing by ensuring that anyone who may be experiencing challenges with their gambling activity has access to meaningful, professional support. This collaboration reflects our responsibility not only as an operator, but as a trusted brand that puts people first,” said Seth Young, Chief Executive Officer at High Roller.
Kindbridge works with gaming operators across North America to deliver early-intervention programs designed to identify, assess, and support at-risk individuals, including integration with self-exclusion and responsible gaming workflows.
“Building strong, accessible pathways to support is an essential part of effective responsible gambling programs.nOperators are uniquely positioned to assist individuals who may be experiencing distress by helping connect them to appropriate care. We’re proud to work with High Roller to expand access to specialized clinicians and evidence-based resources, supporting healthier outcomes for players and more effective responsible gambling frameworks,” said Daniel Umfleet, Founder & CEO of Kindbridge Behavioral Health.
Seth Young, who currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of High Roller, is a current shareholder, member of the Board of Advisors, and former member of the Board of Directors at Kindbridge.
The post High Roller Technologies Signs Letter of Intent with Kindbridge Behavioral Health to Support Responsible Gambling in Ontario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Brightstar Lottery PLC
Brightstar Lottery Delivers Industry-Leading Sales Force Automation Solution to Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation
Brightstar Lottery PLC announced that it has deployed its Sales Wizard salesforce automation tool to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG). Brightstar’s powerful, cloud-based Sales Wizard easily integrates with OLG’s central system and equips sales representatives with actionable insights and compelling data to identify lottery retail opportunities and make every retail visit more effective.
“Brightstar’s Sales Wizard is enabling OLG’s sales force with digital access to actionable data while unlocking operational efficiencies so that our sales representatives can make the best use of every retail visit. Sales Wizard is highly configurable so OLG can leverage this product in a variety of ways to meet our evolving business needs,” said Vanessa Theoret, OLG Sr. Director Retail Sales & Account Management.
“OLG joins 24 other lotteries in using Brightstar’s Sales Wizard to help responsibly grow sales. Sales Wizard was designed to be a flexible, convenient tool for lottery sales representatives to work strategically with retailers, providing data, reports, and insights to understand sales trends and optimize as needed,” said Scott Gunn, Brightstar Chief Operating Officer North America Lottery.
Sales Wizard is the industry-leading sales force automation tool that provides sales teams with timely, relevant information and is available in user-friendly mobile apps for greater efficiency in the field. Currently supporting more than 148,000 retailers globally, Sales Wizard provides data and insights on sales, instant ticket inventory, instant ticket facings, point-of-sale equipment and signage, and much more.
Brightstar serves nearly 90 lottery customers and their players on six continents.
The post Brightstar Lottery Delivers Industry-Leading Sales Force Automation Solution to Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
Canada
ComeOn Launches New Marketing Campaign in Ontario
ComeOn Group has launched its new marketing campaign in Ontario. The campaign underscores ComeOn Group’s long-term commitment to sustainable expansion – powered by ComeOn’s proprietary technology and a clear focus on delivering standout, personalized entertainment experiences at scale.
Since entering Ontario in 2022 with its licensed online casino offering, ComeOn Group has steadily built its presence in one of North America’s most competitive regulated markets. In late 2024, the Group reached a major strategic milestone with the launch of its full proprietary sportsbook in the province, expanding its product portfolio and strengthening its position as a full-suite iGaming operator.
The addition of sportsbook enables ComeOn to offer both casino and sports betting within a unified entertainment ecosystem. This expansion aligns with the Group’s broader global strategy to accelerate sportsbook growth, leveraging its in-house platform, trading capabilities, and risk management expertise to scale efficiently across regulated jurisdictions.
To support this next phase of growth in Ontario, ComeOn Group has shifted to an independent media planning model, activating a bold, high-frequency presence across Linear TV, Connected TV (CTV), and Digital channels. This approach reflects the Group’s product-led philosophy- pairing increased brand visibility with a seamless, personalized player journey powered by a robust, in-house technology stack built for performance and scale.
At the centre of the campaign is a series of premium television commercials starring Jeremy Piven, a long-standing ComeOn brand ambassador. Piven’s high-energy presence and authentic connection to sports reinforce the brand’s entertainment-first positioning, bringing ComeOn’s sportsbook experience to life across TV and digital. Produced by ComeOn Group’s internal creative hub, the campaign provides a cohesive creative platform that clearly differentiates the brand in a crowded market.
Efi Peleg, Chief Commercial Officer at ComeOn Group, said: “Ontario is a critical and highly competitive market for us. By shifting to independent media planning and activating a true 360-degree marketing mix, we’re not just increasing awareness – we’re demonstrating the strength of our proprietary platform and our ability to deliver a superior, personalised player experience. Our headline campaign, led by Jeremy Piven, brings our entertainment-first proposition to life and reflects our broader strategy of driving sustainable growth in key regulated markets through differentiated products and data-driven execution.”
The post ComeOn Launches New Marketing Campaign in Ontario appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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